Manikin stretch joint

ABSTRACT

Joints are provided for connecting first and second manikin parts. The joints can be partially opened like a clamshell by pivoting the parts on a point on the joint interface. They include first and second joint assemblies attached to the first and second manikin parts respectively. The joint assemblies comprise a stretch element such as a spring or an elastomeric cord, and are capable of detachably engaging with each other. The joints can rotate in a primary rotational direction, for example to move a detachable manikin leg closer to the other manikin leg so that the manikin can quickly and easily be dressed in a pair of slacks. Rotation in a secondary direction is also provided to enable the manikins to be easily assembled by customers so that the manikin parts can be shipped separately. Components and methods of making and using the joints are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/659,396 filed Jun. 13, 2012, which is incorporated herein byreference to the extent not inconsistent herewith for purposes ofwritten description and enablement.

BACKGROUND

Applicants have discovered a commercial need for an improved manikinjoint that allows dressing of the manikin more quickly than can be doneusing currently-available manikin joints. Applicants have alsodiscovered a commercial need for manikin joints that can be used withsmall manikin parts to keep them from being knocked off the manikin andlost. There is also a need for efficient manufacturing procedures formanikins comprising such joints. The following disclosure provides suchmanikin joints and manufacturing procedures.

A number of manikin joints comprising springs have been described, e.g.,in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,619,540, 4,954,005, 5,098,213, 6,257,467, 6,575,441,6,619,875, and 6,932,669, and 7,234,887, U.S. Patent Publication No.20080296321, and PCT Publication No. WO 2012015290. Prior manikin jointshave been unsatisfactory for the purpose of making it easy to dressmanikins in trousers without detaching the leg from the body. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 7,234,887, allows a leg joint to partially openup only to an angle between the joint surfaces of about 15°, but this isinsufficient to move the legs of most manikins close enough togetherthat they can both be inserted into trousers.

All patents and publications referred to herein are incorporated byreference to the extent not inconsistent herewith for purposes ofwritten description and enablement.

SUMMARY

Disclosed herein is a manikin joint connected to first and second partsof a manikin body for allowing the second part to move relative to thefirst part. The joints hereof are designed so that after opening, theywill automatically close when no opening force is being exerted oneither part, and will close in such a way that they automatically seattogether in the original closed position every time.

A detachable leg comprising a stretch joint hereof can be easily pulledtoward the other leg in order to dress the manikin in a pair of pants,and therefore does not need to be detached and reattached for thispurpose. In embodiments, the joint parts do not rotate with respect toeach other in a direction parallel to the joint interface. Inembodiments a locking key does not rotate out of a locked position withrespect to the keyway in use, so that there is no worry that the jointwill accidentally disengage after repeatedly being partially opened. Inembodiments, the limb can be rotated in two directions, e.g., sidewaysand back and forth or up and down. In embodiments a limb can be attachedin a desired position and will not rotate out of this position when thejoint is partially opened and then closed, as the limb automaticallyrepositions itself correctly when the joint is closed.

A manikin joint hereof is capable of connecting first and second manikinparts, and when said first and second parts are connected, capable ofallowing said joint to be partially opened by pivoting the parts withrespect to each other on a pivot point on the interface between themanikin parts. The manikin joint comprises: a first joint assemblyattached to the first manikin part; a second joint assembly attached tothe second manikin part, which is capable of detachably engaging withthe first joint assembly. The second joint assembly comprises: a stretchelement, which in use is attached to the first manikin part at a firstattachment point on the stretch element and to the second manikin partat a second attachment point on the stretch element. In use the stretchelement in use is capable of: being elongated in by applying a firststretching force to it at the second attachment point or at a point onthe stretch element other than the first attachment point. The stretchelement is also capable of automatically returning to a less elongatedposition in the absence of the stretching force being applied.

The joint also comprises a pivot element operationally connected to thestretch element, allowing said stretch element to pivot in a primaryrotational direction wherein the manikin parts in use can pivot withrespect to each other at a pivot point located at an interface betweenthe first and second manikin parts into a partially-open position inwhich the joint interfaces can form an angle with respect to each othergreater than about 15°, in embodiments, between about 20° and about 60°,such as 30° or more, 40° or more 45° or more, or 50° or more. Anglesless than about 20° typically do not allow manikin legs to move closeenough to each other to be easily dressed in pants without detaching theleg.

A rigid element extending between said manikin parts prevents them fromsliding with respect to each other when said joint is in partially openposition.

Manikins comprising the stretch joints hereof and components used informing the manikin joint are also provided herein, as are methods ofmaking and using the manikin joints.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a full-size female manikin.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the full-size female manikin of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the female manikin of FIG. 1 with acompression spring stretch joint hereof depicting a detachable leg of amanikin being moved sideways toward the other leg in preparation fordressing the manikin such that a portion of the compression springassembly of the leg joint is visible, along with the guide boss and bodyflangeboard recess. The leg is being rotated to bring its lower portioncloser to the lower portion of the other leg for ease of dressing themanikin.

FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded view of the compression springassembly.

FIG. 4B shows the parts of FIG. 4A as assembled.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the assembled compression springassembly of

FIG. 4B inserted into a void in the leg of a manikin.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the keyway assembly comprising a bodyflangeboard and keyway plate designed to be on the body of a manikin andto mate with the compression spring assembly on the leg shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged perspective view of the body flangeboard of FIG.6 and FIG. 7B is an enlarged perspective view of a leg flangeboard asshown in FIG. 4. The two flangeboards are designed to mate with eachother in use.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the key assembly plateshown in FIG. 4. FIG. 8B is a top perspective view of the key assemblyplate of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C is a side cross-sectional view of the keyassembly plate of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged bottom perspective view of the keyway plate shownin FIG. 6. FIG. 9B is an enlarged top perspective view of the keywayplate of FIG. 9A. FIG. 9C is a side cross-sectional view of the keywayplate of FIG. 9A

FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the retaining bushing shownin FIG. 4.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the pivot key shown in FIG.4.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the keybody shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional front view of an elastomeric cord manikinstretch joint hereof inside the upper portion of a manikin leg in closedposition.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the manikin leg of FIG. 13 with thejoint in partially open position.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing the elastomeric cord attached toa bottom cap in position for insertion into a protective tube. FIG. 15Bis an enlarged view of the bottom cap.

FIG. 16 shows the elastomeric cord equipped with top and bottom eyebolts.

FIG. 17 shows a protective tube, bottom cap and guide wire with atensioning spacer in place at the top end of the tube and an attachmenttube and a bottom cap therefor.

FIG. 18 shows a partially open elastomeric cord manikin joint with theelastomeric cord and pivot pin extending from the body into the leg.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the following definitions are usedherein:

the terms “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”“front,” “back,” “sideways,” “frontward,” “forward,” “backward,”“distal” “proximal” are used herein to have the meaning of such termsrelative to the reference object being referred to, e.g., a normalstanding manikin shaped like a human figure. When these terms are usedto refer to joint components and application of forces on jointcomponents, the reference object is the stretch element such that“upward” and “downward” refer to the direction defined by the length ofthe stretch element.

As used herein, “partially opened” means opened without disenganging thestretch element from either part of the joint by tilting the joint partswith respect to each other like a clamshell, e.g., as shown in FIGS. 3,14 and 18.

A “rotation-constraining element” is a component that in use is able toprevent rotation of the joint parts with respect to each other in aparticular plane.

A “joint interface plane” is the plane defined by the outermost pointsof the surfaces of each joint interface.

When a first component hereof is described as “operationally connected”to a second component, this means the first component is directlyattached to the second component or indirectly attached to the secondcomponent (e.g., via one or more other components that are directlyconnected to the second component) such that a change in the firstcomponent causes a change in the second component, e.g., such that achange in position of the second component is caused by a movement ofthe first component.

A “pivot point” as used herein can be a location on one manikin partupon which another manikin part pivots (rotates relative to the othermanikin part). For example, manikin parts can pivot on each other at apivot point located on the interfacing surfaces of each manikin part,without the need for a special pivot element; or the pivot point can belocated in a hinge or pivot bar, such as the pivot key hereof, or otherpivot element known to the art connected to the manikin parts on whichthe manikin parts rotate relative to each other.

References to “small” and “large” compression springs herein mean thatthe “small” compression spring is smaller than the “large” compressionspring. The components hereof can be scaled up or down depending on thesize of the manikin for which they are used.

The joint interface includes all the points where one of the manikinparts touches the other when the joint is closed. A plane defined by thethree highest points is a joint interface plane.

Manikin joints are provided herein that are capable of connecting firstand second manikin parts, and when the first and second parts areconnected, are capable of allowing the joint to be partially opened bypivoting the parts with respect to each other on a pivot point.

When the first and second parts are connected, the manikin joints hereofare capable of being partially opened by pivoting the parts with respectto each other on a pivot point on the interface between the manikinparts.

A manikin joint hereof comprises: a first joint assembly attached to afirst manikin part; and a second joint assembly attached to a secondmanikin part, the second joint assembly being capable of detachablyengaging with the first joint assembly.

In embodiments, the interface between the manikin parts connected by thejoint forms a line on the outside of the manikin that is without gapsand is difficult to notice, with any points of discontinuity of thejoint interface near the outside of the manikin being small enough tominimize the visibility of the joint interface on the outer surface.

The manikin joint comprises a stretch element, which in use is attachedto the first manikin part at a first attachment point on the stretchelement and to the second manikin part at a second attachment point onthe stretch element, wherein the stretch element in use is capable ofbeing elongated by applying a first stretching force thereon at thesecond attachment point or at a point on the stretch element other thanthe first attachment point, and is capable of automatically returning toa less elongated position in the absence of application of thestretching force.

The stretch element has a compression strength sufficient to preventwiggling of the second part during static use of the manikin, but not sostrong that it prevents the joint from being operated by personnel ofaverage strength without special tools. In an embodiment in which thefirst manikin part is a manikin body and the second manikin part is amanikin leg, the stretch element has a compression strength betweenabout 35 and about 75 pounds, and in embodiments between about 45 andabout 55 pounds, e.g., about 50 pounds. In an embodiment the stretchelement is a spring; in another embodiment, the stretch element is anelastomeric cord such as a bungee cord.

The manikin joint also comprises a pivot element on the first manikinpart or on the first joint assembly that is operationally connected tothe stretch element, upon which the stretch element can pivot into apartially-open position in a primary rotational direction on a pivotpoint located at an interface between the first and second manikinparts. The pivot point can simply be a point on the surfaces of eachjoint part at the joint interface, or can be located in a pivot elementsuch as a hinge, ball and socket, or other pivot mechanism known to theart.

The manikin joint also comprises a rigid element extending between themanikin parts that prevents them from sliding with respect to each otherwhen the joint is in a partially open position. In an embodiment this isa rotation-constraining pivot pin that extends between the joint partsat the joint interface; in another embodiment, thisrotation-constraining element is a specially-designed rigid keybody asdescribed herein.

In an embodiment, the manikin joint also comprises a key and a keywayinto which the key fits. The keyway is fixedly attached to one manikinpart, e.g., is part of and fixedly attached to the first joint assembly,and the key is part of the other manikin part, e.g., is part of andfixedly or removably attached to the second joint assembly. The key issized and shaped, in use, to be inserted through the keyway in anorientation in which it is aligned with the keyway, and after insertionto be rotatable to a second orientation in which it is not aligned withthe keyway, such that the key cannot be withdrawn from the keyway unlessit is rotated into alignment with the keyway. In an embodiment, the keyis an elongated member having a narrowed middle section such that stepsare formed between the middle portion and each end of the key.

In an embodiment, the second joint assembly comprises a slot, such as asubstantially rectangular slot with curved ends, sized and shaped toreceive a rigid keybody therethrough. In an embodiment the slot isslightly larger than the locating portion (the upper portion of thebottom section) of the keybody so as to inhibit rotation of the keybodyin a horizontal plane (parallel to the bottom of the shoulder of thekeybody that separates the upper section from the bottom section), andminimize the likelihood of the keybody hanging up in the slot as itrotates in the primary rotational direction. However, the slot shouldnot be so much larger than the locating portion of the keybody as tointerfere with seating of the keybody in the slot.

In embodiments, the interface between the manikin parts when the jointis closed forms a line on the outside of the manikin that is difficultto notice, with any points of discontinuity near the outside of themanikin being small enough to minimize the visibility of the jointinterface on the outer surface of the manikin.

The manikin parts can be sized to correspond to appendages of afull-size human manikin, e.g., head, arms, shoulders, torso, trunk,pelvis, legs, hands, feet, fingers and toes. The manikin parts can alsobe sized corresponding to appendages of nomial human children, e.g., ageabout 7 to about 12, or to babies. The manikin parts can also be partsof an animal, or can be imaginative and fantastical parts, such asadvertising signs for placement on a manikin body where a head shouldbe, or non-human parts on a human body, e.g., claws on human arms wherea hand should be. Manikins containing the joints disclosed herein canalso be incomplete replicas of human, animal or fantasy creatures, e.g.,they can lack a head or arms or other parts. In an embodiment hereof themanikin joint connects a manikin body that consists of a chest andabdomen, and a manikin leg. In embodiments, manikins comprising thestretch joints hereof include one or more of the stretch jointsdescribed herein to connect one or both legs to a body, and/or one orboth arms to a body, and/or one or both thumbs to their hands.

A keybody is also provided herein, which can be operationally connectedto the stretch element. The keybody comprises a top and bottom section,the top section overhanging the narrower bottom section to form ashoulder that is too large in at least one dimension to fit through theslot.

The top section of the keybody comprises: a recess formed in its topend; a small compression spring disposed within the recess; a set screwclosing the top end of the recess, capable in use of exerting pressureon the small compression spring; portals in opposite walls of the recesssized and shaped to receive a key inserted lengthwise through the bothportals and to allow the key to tilt up and down within said portals ina secondary rotational direction orthogonal to the primary rotationaldirection when a second force orthogonal to the first stretching forceis applied to the stretch element. The portals extend in a verticaldirection (relative to the length of the large compression spring)higher than the top of the key so that there is room for the key to tiltup and down within the portals. This provides a secondary rotation ofthe joint over a small arc sufficient to allow the pivot key to rise upenough to ride up the locating ramp during locking and unlocking of thejoint assemblies when attaching and detaching the manikin parts. Thesmall compression spring is held in place within the recess by the stepsformed between the narrowed middle and end portions of the key. Thesmall compression spring has a compression strength large enough toretain the leg in a static position, but not enough to prevent the legfrom pivoting on the secondary axis. In embodiments, the largecompression spring has a compression strength between about 35 and about75 pounds, and in embodiments between about 45 and about 55 pounds,e.g., about 50 pounds.

The large compression spring has a length sufficient to allow partialopening of the joint to an angle between the joint interfaces greaterthan about 15°, in embodiments greater than about 20° and in embodimentsgreater than about 40°, in embodiments greater than about 50° and inembodiments up to about 60°, and short enough to maintain the properconnection between the joint parts in static position. The bottomsection of the keybody with the retaining rod screwed into it is sizedto provide a desired compression of the spring when the joint parts arein static position. The ratio of the large compression spring length tothe retaining rod length is determined by the spring rate on the spring.The rod should be sufficiently shorter than the spring so as to causethe desired compression of the spring in the static position, e.g.,about 50 pounds. The spring length is determined by the amount ofdesired stretch of the joint (about 20° up to about 60°), and inembodiments about 50° to about 60°. In an embodiment of a leg joint fora full-size manikin, the large compression spring can be about fourinches long with a compression strength of about 50.5 pounds, and can becompressed to about three inches as installed in the joint assembly.

The bottom section of the keybody comprises a top portion, referred toherein as the “locating portion,” and a bottom portion, referred toherein as the “stretch portion.” The locating portion is sized andshaped so as to fit into the slot only when aligned with respect to theslot so as not to rotate in the slot in the plane defined by the bottomof the shoulder. The length of the slot is greater than required toreceive the locating portion of the keybody. The locating portion of thekeybody is tapered steeply downward (e.g., at an angle of about 8-12°from vertical) such that the keybody can tilt within the slot when adownward off-center force (push or pull) is applied to the bottom of thekeybody. This allows the keybody and the second manikin part to rotateon a primary axis of rotation defined by the length of the key. However,when the locating portion of the keybody is within the slot, the secondmanikin part will not rotate horizontally in the plane defined by thebottom of the shoulder. In an embodiment the width of the slot is alsogreater than required to accommodate the slot. In an embodiment, thedimension of the slot are enough greater than the locating portion ofthe of the slot to prevent the keybody from hanging up within the slotwhen rotating in the primary rotational direction such that the jointwill open to an angle greater than about 15°, in embodiments from about20° to about 60°, about 40° to 60° or about 50° to 60° and inembodiments about 60°. The dimensions of the slot, however, should notbe so much greater than the dimensions of the locating portion of thekeybody that proper seating of the keybody in the slot is prevented.

The locating portion of the keybody is tapered downward sufficiently toallow rotation of the joint in the primary rotational direction suchthat the joint will open to an angle greater than about 15°, inembodiments from about 20° or about 30° or about 40° or about 50° toabout 60°, and in embodiments about 60°.

The bottom “stretch” portion of the bottom section of the keybody istapered less steeply downward, e.g., at an angle of about 2° fromvertical. The keybody is designed so that a downward force on the springcan cause slot to be completely pulled away from the locating portion ofthe keybody, allowing the keybody to rotate freely in the slot in ahorizontal direction without dislodging the pivot key from its lockedposition.

The length of the spring is chosen to provide sufficient stretch thatthe joint can be partially opened to an angle greater than about 15°, inembodiments between about 20° and about 60°, in embodiments betweenabout 40° or 50° and about 60°, and in embodiments between about 50° andabout 60°. In embodiments the large compression spring is attached tothe bottom of a keybody by means of a retaining bushing held in place bya retaining rod and nut, wherein the top of the retaining rod screwsinto a threaded recess in the bottom portion of the keybody. The lengthof the retaining rod and the stretch portion of the keybody are chosento provide the desired compressibility and stretchability of the spring.In embodiments, the locating portion comprises about 40% of the lengthof the bottom section of the keybody and the stretch portion comprisesabout 60% of the length of the bottom section of the key body, while thetop portion of the keybody comprises about 44% of the total length ofthe keybody. The length of the spring and retaining bolt are chosen soas to allow the joint to open to an angle greater than about 15°, inembodiments between about 20° or about 30° or about 40° or about 50° andabout 60°. The keybody is designed so that the locating portion can movecompletely out of the slot in the key assembly plate, so that the upperpart of the key body does not engage with the slot and interfere withopening of the joint to the desired angle.

Application of a force on the second joint part in a secondaryrotational direction causes the key to tilt within the portals in theupper portion of the keybody and also causes the keybody to tilt withinthe slot, thereby causing the second manikin part to rotate with respectto the first manikin part in a second rotational direction orthogonal tothe primary rotational direction around the elongated key. (The primaryaxis of rotation passes through the long dimension of the elongated keyand the secondary axis of rotation passes through the center of the keyalong short dimension thereof.)

Manikins containing the manikin parts with joints described herein arealso provided. In embodiments, the manikin parts correspond in size andshape to normal human body parts, from grown athletic men to smallbabies and children, e.g., children from about seven to about twelveyears of age. Manikin bodies and parts can be formed of any materialknown to the art, and can be hollow with an outer shell, orsubstantially solid; however, sufficient space should be provided insidethe manikin part so that the first and second joint assemblies fittherein. In addition in an embodiment comprising a pivot key, sufficientspace should be provided into which the unattached end of the pivot keycan extend to allow the pivot key to freely move within that manikinpart when the joint is opened and closed, In embodiments, the manikinsare hollow manikins as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794 and/or USPatent Publication No. 2011/0024031, incorporated herein by reference tothe extent not inconsistent herewith for purpose of enablement andwritten description.

The manikin joints hereof can also comprise interfitting features on thefirst and second joint assemblies at the joint interface that arecapable of mating when the first and second joint assemblies arepositioned in a desired alignment. Such interfitting features can be ofany size and shape that does not interfere with operation of the joint,including a guide boss on one joint assembly or manikin part and agroove and/or a recess sized and shaped to receive the guide boss on theother joint assembly or manikin part. The joint hereof is capable in useof automatically positioning itself in the same position every time whenthe joint is allowed close so that, for example, the manikin foot willalways come back to the desired position. In embodiments, theinterfitting guide boss and mating groove and recess on the jointinterfaces are pulled together and mated by the compressive force of thespring when the opening force applied to the open the joint is removed.

A method is also provided herein for attaching a second manikin part toa first manikin part using a manikin joint hereof to connect theseparts. The method comprises: providing a first manikin part comprisingthe first joint assembly and a second manikin part comprising the secondjoint assembly; attaching the first manikin part to the second manikinpart by: positioning the second manikin part with respect to the firstmanikin part such that the surfaces of their respective joint assembliesare substantially parallel, the guide boss is proximal to the end of thegroove farthest away from the recess, and the pivot key is proximal tothe keyway; moving the manikin parts toward each other such that theguide boss is received within the groove and the top of the keybody andthe pivot key are received through the keyway; rotating the manikinparts with respect to each other until the guide boss reaches the end ofthe groove closest to the recess and the pivot key is no longer alignedwith the keyway, whereby the joint assemblies are locked together;exerting downward force on the second manikin part to cause the guideboss to disengage from the groove; and continuing the rotation of thesecond manikin part with respect to the first manikin part until theguide boss mates with the recess and the large compression spring causesthe manikin parts to be pulled together.

In use the pivot key does not rotate in the key slot when the joint isopened because it is constrained by the locating ramps.

When it is desired to detach the second manikin part from the firstmanikin part the following steps are performed: pulling the secondmanikin part away from the first manikin part by exerting a downwardforce on the second manikin part, thereby stretching the largecompression spring and separating the manikin parts a sufficientdistance to disengage the guide boss from the recess; rotating thesecond manikin part with respect to the first manikin part so as tobring the guide boss into alignment with the groove until the guide bossis proximal to the end of the groove closest to the recess; ceasing toexert the downward force thereby allowing the compressive force of thelarge compression spring to cause the guide boss to seat in the end ofthe groove; rotating the second manikin part until the guide bossreaches the end of the groove farthest from the recess, thereby aligningthe pivot key with the keyway; and pulling the second manikin part awayfrom the first manikin part, thereby pulling the key through the keywayand separating the second manikin part from the first manikin part.

The manikin joints hereof, when used to connect a manikin bodycomprising an integral leg to a detachable manikin leg, are especiallyuseful for dressing the assembled manikin in a pair of pants. This isdone by inserting the lower end of the integral leg onto or through afirst leg of the pants without pulling the pants further up on the leg;exerting an inward pressure on a portion of the detachable leg, causingthe stretch element to elongate and the leg to rotate with respect tothe body on a pivot point at the joint interface between the body andthe detachable leg near the manikin groin, thereby bringing the lowerportion of the detachable leg closer to the lower portion of theintegral leg; inserting the lower end of the detachable leg into orthrough a second leg of the pants; and pulling the pants up to coverboth legs.

A method of making a manikin joint hereof is also provided, the methodcomprising: providing a first manikin part, a second manikin part, astretch element, a pivot element and a rigid element capable ofextending between the manikin parts; and attaching the stretch elementto the first and second manikin parts such that movement of the partswith respect to each other will cause the stretch element to elongate;operably connecting the pivot element to the stretch element such thatwhen a first stretching force is exerted on the stretch element, thesecond manikin part can pivot in a primary rotational direction withrespect to the first manikin part on a pivot point located at the jointinterface to bring the joint into a partially open position; andpositioning the rigid element to extend between the manikin parts suchthat they are prevented from sliding with respect to each other when thejoint is in a partially-open position.

The manikin joint comprising a large compression spring can be pulled toa partially open position by pivoting on a pivot point near the outsideof the joint parts, opposite to the location of the pivot point when thedetachable leg is rotated closer to the other leg. In addition, byadjusting the orientation of the joint assemblies with respect to eachother in different configurations, the joint can be made to partiallyopen in many different selected positions.

In embodiments hereof in which the stretch element is an elastomericcord, the second manikin part can comprise: the stretch element attachedthereto; and the first manikin part can comprise: an eye bolt attachedthereto which serves as a pivot element upon which the stretch elementcan pivot; and a rigid rod attached to the first manikin part which inuse extends through and is slidable in a hole in the second manikin partsuch that the manikin parts are prevented from sliding upon each otherwhen the joint is partially opened.

In an embodiment hereof, a stretch joint for a manikin is provided thatutilizes a variable length element such as a bungee cord connected ateach end to a part of a manikin to be joined. The joint opens bypivoting on a pivot point located on the joint interface, typically onan edge of the joint interface. The joint can be opened by the user byexerting force on one of the manikin parts joined by the joint. A pivotpin is positioned within the joint so as to prevent one part fromrotating horizontally with respect to the other part and to ensure thatonce the opening force exerted on the manikin part is removed, the jointwill automatically return to its initial position forming a jointinterface substantially without gaps, and difficult to visually detect.The elastomeric joint enables a manikin to be dressed in about half thetime required for dressing manikins with previously-known joints.

In an embodiment an elastomeric cord is attached to the first manikinpart and passing through and intersecting the joint interface at a firstpoint therein; the elastomeric cord also being attached to the secondmanikin part; a pivot point at an edge of the joint interface selectedso as to allow movement of the second manikin part relative to the firstmanikin part in a desired direction when an operator opens the joint byexerting an opening force on the second manikin part; a pivot pinattached to the first manikin part such that it passes through andintersects with the joint interface at a second point on the interfacedefined by a line between the first point and the pivot point andextends through a hole in the shell of the second manikin part into avoid space and is slidable in the hole when the joint opens and closes;wherein locating the pivot pin at the second point prevents rotation ofthe manikin parts relative to each other around an axis passing throughthe first point and orthogonal to the joint interface; and wherein thepivot pin serves to guide the second manikin part back to its originalclosed position when the opening force on the second manikin part isremoved.

In an elastomeric cord embodiment, one joint part can have a raisedportion or “plateau” and the other part can have a corresponding hollowat the joint interface. The edges of the plateau and hollow can bechamfered so that once the top of the plateau is pulled into a positionanywhere within the area defined by the hollow, it will automaticallybecome centered in the hollow when the joint is closed. The joints arealso provided with a pivot pin to ensure that they do not rotatehorizontally relative to each other when they are opened and closed, andthat they do not become otherwise misaligned during use.

The elastomeric cord can be a bungee cord, a rubber cord, or cord madeof any other stretchy material known to the art, so long as it possessesenough strength to keep the joint closed under normal use includingbeing bumped, but not so much strength that it cannot be easily openedby retail store employees and others who are tasked with dressingmanikins. Typically, a cord strength capable of exerting a pulling forceof up to about 35 to about 75 pounds, in embodiments about 35 to about45 pounds, and in embodiments about 35 to about 50 pounds, is useful forattaching full-size manikin limbs, e.g., legs, to bodies, is sufficient.A cord with lesser strength can be used in joints connecting smallermanikin parts to other manikin parts. The elastomeric cord is undertension in the closed joint to keep it from falling open, e.g., the cordis prestretched to about 1.25 to about 1.5 or 2 times its unstretchedlength before attaching it to the manikin parts so that it exerts aconstant pulling force on the joint parts to keep the joint closed. Thesame elastomeric cord can be used for both male and female embodimentsusing full-size manikin parts. Using this type of elastomeric cord, ittypically requires about 6 to about 9 pounds of pull strength to move aleg from a wide-stance position such as that shown in FIG. 1 to withinabout eight inches of the other leg. In embodiments in which singleelastomeric cord, e.g., a bungee cord, has insufficient strength to keepthe joint closed under normal use, the cord can be doubled or tripled,or can additionally be configured to form a bridge between two sides ofa loop formed by the cord as described herein, so as to provide therequired pulling power for the joint. In an embodiment wherein a leg isconnected to a body by the joint hereof, the elastomeric cord exerts apulling force of about 37.5 pounds when the joint is closed and about39.75 pounds when the joint is open. In embodiments, the elastomericcord is replaced by another device capable of producing the requiredforces on the joint, such as a spring or a pneumatic tube.

The term “elastomeric cord” as used herein refers to any configurationof one or more elastomeric cords that can be used to connect the twomanikin parts and provide the necessary strength, including a singlecord, a looped cord, comprising an angled bridge between the sides ofthe loop, and/or sets of two or more separate single cords used inparallel. The pull strengths specified for commercially availableelastomeric cords are considered to be accurate within about plus orminus 10%. In embodiments, a compression spring can substitute for theelastomeric cord.

In embodiments, the elastomeric cord passes through the joint interfaceat about the center thereof, i.e., about the center of a circular jointinterface or for a non-circular joint interface, at about the center ofa notional line extending across the joint interface in the direction ofdesired movement of the joint as it opens and closes and passing throughthe pivot point.

The pivot point for the manikin joint can be located at a point on theproximal edge of the joint interface closer to the vertical midline ofthe body such that the joint opens to move the leg toward the midline,or the pivot point can be located at a point closer to the distal edgeof the joint interface farther from the vertical midline of the bodysuch that the joint opens to move the leg away from the midline. Forexample, the pivot point is located on the proximal edge of the jointinterface near the crotch if it is desired that the joint open outward,moving the leg toward the midline, and the pivot point is located on thedistal edge of the joint interface (on the opposite side of the leg fromthe crotch) at its interface with the body if it is desired that thejoint open inward, moving the leg away from the midline of the manikinbody. The pivot point can be selected so that the joint simulatesnatural or desired movement of one part relative to the other. No hinge,ball and socket, or other device is required at the pivot point. Thepivot pin and the elastomeric cord are placed in line with the pivotpoint so that the manikin parts are able to rotate on the pivot pointwithout the need for such devices; however, such devices can be used inembodiments hereof if desired. In use the pivot pin extends through ahole in the shell of the second manikin part sized to accommodate it,and is able to move within a void space of the second manikin part asthe manikin joint opens and closes, with its movement constrained onlyby the sides of the hole.

In embodiments, the manikin joint hereof comprises an elastomeric cordhaving one end connected to a first manikin part via an eye boltattached to the cord and screwed into a nut fixedly attached to thefirst manikin part. The other end of the elastomeric cord is connectedto a second manikin part by being contained within a cylinder andconnected to the bottom of the cylinder, wherein the cylinder is fixedlyattached to the second manikin part. An “end” of an elastomeric cordmeans the portion of the cord or cord configuration or set of parallelcords that is attached to a manikin part. The elastomeric cords hereofhave two “ends,” one attached to a first manikin part and the otherattached to a second manikin part to form the manikin joint. Thecylinder can be fixedly attached to the second manikin part by beingadhesively attached to an attachment tube that is molded into the secondmanikin part.

An embodiment of a manikin joint component disclosed herein comprises anelastomeric cord disposed within and fixedly attached to the bottom of acylinder. The cylinder is sized to fit within a portion of a manikinlimb corresponding to an unjointed portion of a human limb, e.g., thecylinder can fit within the upper leg above the knee. In embodiments,the cylinder is sized to fit within a whole leg or portion thereof. Thecylinder can also be sized to fit within jointed or unjointed portionsof manikin limbs, such as upper or whole arms, or whole thumbs.

In an embodiment, a method of making a manikin joint hereof to connectfirst and second parts of a manikin, wherein the first and second partsform a joint interface, comprises the following steps: providing anattachment element for an elastomeric cord in a first manikin part,e.g., a threaded nut molded into position in the first manikin part;identifying a desired pivot point on an edge of the joint interface uponwhich to pivot the joint to an open position; providing an attachmentelement for a pivot pin in the first manikin part, such as a threadednut positioned to receive the threaded end of the pivot point, or athreaded hole in the shell of the first manikin part which is drilled orcreated during molding. The attachment element for the pivot pin ispositioned such that the distance between the pivot pin at the jointinterface and the elastomeric cord at the joint interface is about 20 to30% of the distance between the elastomeric cord at the joint interfaceand the pivot point; providing an elastomeric cord with a strength thatallows the joint to be opened by exertion of a selected force thereonand to automatically close when the force is removed: stretching theelastomeric cord to about 1.25 to about 2 times its normal length, inembodiments about 1.25 to about 1.5 times its normal length; attachingeach end of the elastomeric cord to its attachment element in the firstand second manikin parts: and attaching the pivot pin to the firstmanikin part.

In embodiments, the method of making a manikin joint to connect firstand second parts of a manikin, wherein the first and second parts form ajoint interface, comprises: molding an attachment element for anelastomeric cord into a first manikin part: identifying a desired pivotpoint on the outside of the joint interface upon which to pivot thejoint to an open position; molding an attachment element for a pivot pininto the first manikin part such that the distance between the pivot pinat the joint interface and the elastomeric cord at the joint interfaceis about 20 to 30% of the distance between the elastomeric cord at thejoint interface and the pivot point; molding an attachment tube into thesecond manikin part; configuring an elastomeric cord to provide astrength that allows the joint to be opened by exertion of a selectedforce thereon and to automatically close when the force is removed;providing a tube sized to accommodate the elastomeric cord when it isstretched to a length about 1.25 to about 2 times its unstretchedlength; providing a tubular spacer having tube walls sized to correspondto the walls of the tube used to contain the elastomeric cord;positioning the spacer at an end of the tube with the spacer endsabutting the tube; attaching a traction element to a first end of theelastomer cord; inserting the traction element into the tube at the endopposite the spacer and pushing it and the attached elastomeric cordthrough the tube until the traction element emerges from the end of thespacer; securing the second end of the elastomeric cord to a cap;affixing the cap to the end of the tube opposite the spacer; stretchingthe elastomeric cord by causing a pulling force to be exerted on theelastomeric cord by the traction element; retaining the elastomeric cordin its stretched position by means of a retaining element attached tothe first end of the elastomeric cord that prevents the cord fromreverting to an unstretched position inside the tube; attaching thefirst end of the elastomeric cord to its attachment element in the firstmanikin part; attaching the pivot pin to its attachment element in thefirst manikin part; and attaching the tube to the attachment tube moldedinto the second manikin part.

The tubes can be made of any suitable material, including cardboard,plastic, metal, wood, or other materials known to the art havingsufficient stiffness and strength to withstand the forces upon them inuse. The protective and attachment tubes do not have to be made of thesame material.

Also provided herein is a manikin joint comprising: a variable lengthelement removably attached at one end to a first position on a firstmanikin part and at the other end to a second position on a secondmanikin part so as to form a joint between the parts having a jointinterface between the manikin parts; wherein the variable length elementis configured to exert a pulling force on both manikin parts sufficientto keep the joint closed with both parts touching; wherein the variablelength element is capable of elongating sufficiently to cause onemanikin part to pivot on a pivot point at an edge of the jointinterface, thereby opening the joint, when a sufficient opening force isapplied to the manikin part; and wherein the variable length element iscapable of automatically exerting a force on the manikin parts causingthem to return to their original closed position; and a pivot pinfixedly attached to one manikin part and intersecting the jointinterface between the outer edge thereof and the variable lengthelement.

Further disclosed herein is a method of dressing a manikin having astretch manikin joint in an article of clothing, the method comprising:inserting a first manikin parts at least partially into the article ofclothing; moving the first manikin part toward a second manikin part byexerting a force on the first manikin part sufficient to open themanikin joint; inserting at least a portion of the second manikin partinto the article of clothing; allowing the manikin joint to close byceasing to exert the force on the first manikin part; and if necessary,finishing dressing the manikin in the article of clothing by coveringremaining portions of the manikin with the article of clothing.

In embodiments, the manikin joint connects a manikin shoulder and amanikin arm, and the pivot point is located at a point on a front edgeof the joint interface such that the joint opens to move the armbackward, or is located on a point on a back edge of the joint interfacesuch that the joint opens to move the arm forward.

The manikin joint can also connect a manikin hand and a thumb, and thepivot point is located at a point on the edge of the joint interfaceproximal to the hand such that the joint opens to move the thumb towardthe hand.

In an embodiment hereof, the manikin shoulder joints are magneticjoints, e.g., as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794, incorporatedherein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewith for purposesof written description and enablement.

In the Figures hereof and the following description, like referencenumbers refer to like parts throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, arms 15 can be attached to body 35 by any manikinshoulder joint known to the art including the compression spring jointand elastomeric joint disclosed herein. Hands 25 can also be attached byany such joints, as can thumbs 26. It will be appreciated that themanikins hereof can be partial manikins lacking heads or other limbs,can be child-size or baby-size as well as full adult-size manikins, andcan have all but one or more appendages integrally formed with body 35,or with the limb to which they are connected. For example, hands can beintegrally formed with arms, and thumbs can be integrally formed withhands. The claims hereof encompass manikins having one or more limbsattached by the stretch joints disclosed herein.

In embodiments the manikin body and limbs are formed by molding withpolyurethane.

In an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-12, the manikin stretch jointhereof comprises a leg assembly including two compression springs, whichassembly is operationally connected to the leg of a manikin. The manikinleg, in use, comprising the leg assembly, is connected to the body ofthe manikin by rotating the leg so that a pivot key on the leg assemblycan pass through a keyway on a keyway assembly operably connected to thebody of the manikin, then rotating the leg further so that the pivot keycan no longer pass through the keyway, and so that a guide boss on theleg assembly engages with a recess on the leg assembly, preventing theleg from rotating with respect to the body. This forms a lock thatprevents the leg from being detached from the torso. When the pivot keyis engaged within the keyway the joint between the leg and the body canpartially open so that the lower portion of the leg can be broughtcloser to the lower portion of the other leg of the manikin to make iteasy to dress the manikin.

Both the key and keyway assemblies are attached to the first and secondmanikin parts by screwing them to flangeboards, such as injection-moldedflangeboards that are molded into the manikin parts during the moldingprocess. The flangeboards also serve to insure that the manikin partsattach in the proper orientation through the use of a boss pin andrecess groove for attachment that culminates with a recess hole thathouses the boss pin.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a full-size female manikin 10 comprising body35, arms 15, legs 20, leg-body joint interface 11, ami-body jointinterface 17, and stand base 42.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the full-size female manikin shown in FIG. 1showing arm-body joint interface 17, hand 25, thumb 26, hand-thumb jointinterface 27, arms 15, wrists 16, and arm-wrist joint interfaces 18.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of the female manikin 10 of FIG. 1depicting the detachable leg 20 of the manikin being pivoted sidewaystoward the other leg 20 in preparation for dressing the manikin suchthat a portion of keybody 50 of compression spring assembly 21 (see FIG.4) on leg 20 is visible. Pivot key 56 in keybody 50 (shown in FIG. 4A)serves as an axis of rotation allowing keybody 50 to rotate thereon thusallowing the lower part of leg 20 to move toward the other leg when aninward force is exerted on the lower part of leg 20. Guide boss 70 isvisible on leg flangeboard 143 of compression spring assembly 21 on leg20, and body flangeboard recess 72 is visible on body flangeboard 142.Guide boss 70 and flangeboard recess 72 are designed to mate with eachother when the joint is in closed position.

FIG. 4A is a perspective exploded view of the compression springassembly 21, which comprises threaded set screw 95 designed in use toscrew into threads in a recess 49 in the top of keybody 50, holdingsmall compression spring 94 in place within recess 49. Pivot key 56comprises a narrowed middle section 57 and is designed to fit withinkeybody key portal 60 of keybody 50, which is vertically elongated toallow pivot key 56 to tilt up and down within it, exerting pressure tocompress small compression spring 94, which allows the leg to rotate upand down on an axis perpendicular to the long dimension of pivot key 56and running through the center of pivot key middle section 57, as pivotkey 56 tilts up and down in keybody key portal 60.

Key assembly plate 80 comprises is shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 8C. Itcomprises screw holes 137 and slot 81.

Leg flangeboard 143 is equipped on its top surface with guide boss 70,which is designed in use to fit into both body flangeboard groove 71 andbody flangeboard recess 72 (shown in FIG. 6). Guide boss 70 is depictedas conical in shape, but can also be cylindrical or any other shapecapable of being inserted into recess 72 and sliding in groove 71 ofbody flangeboard 142 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).

Key assembly plate 80, comprising screw holes 137 and key assembly plateslot 81 is designed to be screwed onto leg flangeboard 143 by means ofkeyway orientation screws 136. The plurality of threaded screw recesses140 in leg flangeboard 143 allows key assembly plate 80 to be positionedon leg flangeboard 143 in up to 20 different orientations, therebydetermining the orientation of pivot key 56, which determines theprimary direction in which leg 20 can be rotated (since leg 20 rotateson a primary axis of rotation through the long dimension of pivot key56).

Slot 81 in key assembly plate 80 is rectangular in shape with curvedends designed to accommodate the bottom part of keybody 50 which isdesigned with a shoulder 52 between the bottom and upper portion ofkeybody 50. The bottom part of keybody 50 comprises flat portions 53 oneither side so as to fit into slot 81 and prevent rotation of keybody 50sideways in slot 81. The flat surfaces of the bottom part of keybody 50are parallel to the long dimension of pivot key 56 when it is insertedthrough key portals 60. The bottom of keybody 50 tapers downwardly sothat keybody 50 can rotate in slot 81 when a force normal to the primary(inward) force is exerted on leg 20, this normal force being describedherein as a secondary (forward or backward) force. This secondary forceresults in pivot key 56 tilting within key portals 60 in keybody 50,which portals extend higher than the height of pivot key 56 within them,so that pivot key 56 is able to tilt within key portals 60.

In use, the bottom of keybody 50, which extends through slot 81 alsoextends through central opening 144 in leg flangeboard 143 and intolarge compression spring 76, where it receives the threaded top ofcompression spring retaining rod 88 into a corresponding threaded recessin the bottom of keybody 50. Large compression spring 76 is positionedover cylindrical portion 92 of retaining bushing 90, resting on lip 91of retaining bushing 90. Compression spring retaining rod 88 extendsthrough retaining bushing 90 and is held in place by spring retainingnut 77.

FIG. 4B shows compression spring assembly 21 with the parts assembled,wherein small compression spring 94 is not visible within recess 49inside keybody 50 but touches middle section 57 of pivot key 56 withinkeybody key portal 60, and is able to compress as pivot key 56 pivotswithin keybody key portal 60.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway side view of the assembled compression springassembly 21 of FIG. 4B inserted into leg void 28 in leg 20.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of keyway assembly 22 which is attached tobody 35 of the manikin. Keyway assembly 22 comprises body flangeboard142 and keyway plate 74. Keyway assembly 22 is designed to mate withcompression spring assembly 21 on the leg shown in FIG. 5. Keyway plate74 comprises keyway 75, which is a circular opening with rectangularextension on opposite sides, sized and shaped to receive pivot key 56 inuse. In use, pivot key 56 is lined up with and inserted through keyway75 and then turned so that it is no longer lined up with keyway 75, thuspreventing compression spring assembly 21, of which it is a part, fromseparating from keyway assembly 22. This prevents body 35 of the manikinfrom separating from leg 20. Keyway plate 74 also comprises locatingramps 145. Locating ramps 145 are configured such that the two rampsflank each side of keyway 75. The ramps each rise in height from theirfar ends toward their other ends, where the two ramps meet, leaving agap into which, in use, pivot key 56 fits, snapping into place when itis turned 90° after being inserted through keyway 75. This helps ensurethat pivot key 56 will not accidentally be rotated horizontally duringuse when the joint is partially opened. If it could rotate horizontally,it could pass through keyway 75, resulting in the joint partsseparating. Keyway assembly 22 also comprises body flangeboard 142. Bodyflangeboard 142 comprises flangeboard recess 72 and flangeboard groove71 designed to receive guide boss 70 of leg flangeboard 143 (see FIG. 4)in use. Body flangeboard 142 also comprises threaded screw recesses 140designed to receive screws 136 used to fasten keyway plate 74 to bodyflangeboard 142.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged perspective view of body flangeboard 142 of FIG.6 showing flangeboard recess 72 and flangeboard groove 71. FIG. 7B is anenlarged perspective view of leg flangeboard 143 as shown in FIG. 4showing guide boss 70. The two flangeboards 142 and 143 are sized andshaped to mate with each other in use. The flangeboards are, inembodiments, molded via injection molding as a single piece. Legflangeboard 143 as depicted comprises guide boss 70. Body flangeboard142 comprises groove 71 and recess 72 for receiving guide boss 70 inuse. A lug (not shown) inside the flangeboards 142 and 143 helps alignthem properly within the joint.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged bottom perspective view of key assembly plate 80shown in FIG. 4, showing threaded screw recesses 140. FIG. 8B is a topperspective view of key assembly plate 80 of FIG. 8A showing the bottomof threaded screw recesses 140. FIG. 8C is a side cross-sectional viewof the key assembly plate of FIG. 8A showing threaded screw recesses140.

FIG. 9A is an enlarged bottom perspective view of keyway plate 74 shownin FIG. 6 showing the bottom of threaded screw recesses 140 and locatingramps 145. FIG. 9B is an enlarged top perspective view of keyway plate74 of FIG. 9A showing the top of threaded screw recesses 140 andlocating ramps 145. FIG. 9C is a side cross-sectional view of keywayplate 74 of FIG. 9A showing threaded screw recesses 140. FIG. 10 is anenlarged perspective view of retaining bushing 90 shown in FIG. 4A.Retaining bushing 90 comprises lip 91 and cylindrical portion 92. Theedges of bushing 90 are chamfered in embodiments so that its insertioninto large compression spring 76 is not hindered by rough edges.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged perspective view of pivot key 56 shown in FIG. 4Ashowing narrowed middle section 57, which in use retains smallcompression spring 94 in place in recess 49 of keybody 50 shown in FIG.12. The edges of pivot key 56 are chamfered in embodiments so that thefunction of the key is not hindered by rough edges.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of keybody 50 shown in FIG. 4A.Keybody 50 comprises keybody key portal 60, which is adapted in use toreceive pivot key 56 (FIG. 11), and allow it to rotate up and down.Keybody 50 also comprises shoulder 52, which in use rests atop keyassembly plate 80 (FIG. 4A). Keybody 50 also comprises flat portions 53on opposite sides 53 and is tapered downwardly so as to allow keybody 50to tilt within key assembly plate slot 81 (see FIG. 4). Keybody 50defines a recess 49 sized to accommodate small compression spring 94 inits top portion, and threaded inside at the top to receive set screw 95(see FIG. 4). The bottom, stretch section 55 of keybody 50 is hollowedout and threaded to provide a receiving channel 58 allow insertion ofthe compression spring retaining rod 88, which is threaded at the top.The bottom end of keybody 50 is chamfered in embodiments such that itdoes not interfere with the action of large compression spring 76 duringactuation of the stretch joint.

To make a manikin comprising a stretch joint comprising a compressionspring assembly 21 and a keyway assembly 22 as described above, bodyflangeboard 142 along with screw recesses 140 is molded into manikinbody 35 by allowing the polymer mix that is used to mold the body toflow around the flangeboard or portions thereof, leaving flangeboardgroove 71, flangeboard recess 72 and threaded screw recesses 140 open.Leg flangeboard 143 is similarly molded into leg 20. The flangeboardsare single pieces, in embodiments made by injection molding. They areplaced and oriented into the manikin mold during the manikin moldingprocesses. In embodiments they comprise a location lug for correctorientation and tooled in during the process of developing the manikinform. Typically each manikin has a flangeboard at every joint that isover-molded in. The manikin material itself holds the flangeboards inplace. Sufficient void space should be provided inside the manikin bodyto accommodate the upper portion of assembled compression springassembly 21 (see FIG. 4B) inside the manikin.

Compression spring assembly 21 is assembled by attaching key assemblyplate 80 to leg flangeboard 143 with screws 136. Pivot key 56 isinserted into keybody key portal 60. Small compression spring 94 isinserted into recess 49 of keybody 50, and set screw 95 is screwed intoplace to hold spring 94 under compression, in embodiments at about 50pounds, in recess 49 between set screw 95 and pivot key 56. The bottomportion of keybody 50 is then inserted through slot 81 of key assemblyplate 80.

The top of large compression spring 76 is then placed over the bottomportion of keybody 50 that extends below leg flangeboard 143. Retainingbushing 90 is inserted into the bottom of large compression spring 76.Compression spring retaining rod 88, which is threaded at the top, isinserted through retaining bushing 90 and screwed into the hollow bottomof keybody 50, which is threaded to receive it. In embodiments, thebottom of retaining rod 88 is equipped with retaining nut 77 as anintegral part thereof, which holds the compression spring assembly inplace.

The manikin body, comprising one or more compression spring stretchjoints with keyway assemblies 22 attached, can be packed and shippedseparately from the detachable manikin parts with attached compressionspring assemblies 21. For example, the body can include other parts suchas non-detachable arms and one leg. At least one detachable leg can bepacked and shipped separately from the body, and easily attached to thebody by an end user.

To attach leg 20, comprising compression spring assembly 21, to body 35,comprising keyway assembly 22, leg flangeboard 143 at the top of leg 20is aligned with body flangeboard 142 such the flangeboard surfaces areparallel and such that guide boss 70 is proximal to the end of groove 71farthest from recess 70 and pivot key 56 is proximal to keyway 75. Leg20 is moved toward body 35 such that guide boss 70 engages with groove71, and the top of keybody 50 and pivot key 56 pass through keyway 75.The leg is then rotated such that guide boss 70 in groove 71 movestoward the end of groove 71 closest to recess 72 and pivot key 56 ispositioned so as not to be able to pass through keyway 75. The manikinparts will thus be locked together. When rotation is stopped by guideboss 70 reaching the end of groove 71 closest to recess 72, leg 20 ispulled away from body 35, stretching large compression spring 76, so asto disengage guide boss 70 from groove 71, and leg 20 is then rotateduntil guide boss 70 is proximal to recess 72. At this point the pullingforce on leg 20 is stopped such that the compressive force of largecompression spring 76 causes guide boss 70 to seat within recess 72.

To partially open the joint, downward force is exerted on largecompression spring 76 in detachable leg 20 to move leg 20 toward theother leg. This causes large compression spring 76 to stretch andkeybody 50 to rotate on pivot key 56, so that leg 20 rotates to apartially open position. It is prevented from sliding sideways becauseslot 81 in key assembly plate 80 does not allow sideways movement of themanikin parts with respect to each other. To return the joint to theclosed position, exertion of the inward force is stopped, allowing thejoint to automatically return to its closed position as the stretch inlarge compression spring 76 is reduced. When the joint is in closedposition, it is exerting a compressive force of about 35 pounds to about75 pounds to hold the manikin parts together. The operator thereforeneeds to exert a force greater than this to partially open the joint.The operator needs to exert a force greater than the compressive forceexerted by large compression spring 76 when the joint is closed.

To detach leg 20 from body 35 the leg is pulled away from the body ashort distance, stretching large compression spring 76, so as todisengage guide boss 70 from recess 72, and then leg 20 is rotated so asto bring guide boss 70 into alignment with groove 71 until guide boss 70is proximal to the end of groove 71 closest to recess 72. The pullingforce on leg 20 is stopped such that the compressive force of largecompression spring 76 causes guide boss 70 to seat in the end of groove71. Leg 20 is rotated until guide boss 70 reaches the end of groove 71farthest from recess 72, at which point pivot key 56 will be alignedwith keyway 75, and can be pulled through keyway 75, thus separating leg20 from body 35.

To dress the manikin with a single detachable leg 20 hereof in a pair ofpants, an operator inserts a first leg that is integral with the bodyinto the appropriate pant leg without pulling the pants up. At thispoint the operator can attach that leg to stand 42 if desired. Theoperator then exerts a downward pressure on large compression spring 76by moving detachable leg 20 toward the other leg, taking advantage asneeded of the leverage provided by exerting pressure at a lower point ofleg 20, to open the joint as shown in FIG. 3 and move the lower portionof detachable leg 20 closer to the leg that is integral to the manikin.The lower down on detachable leg 20 the force is exerted, the strongerthe force opening the joint will be due to the leverage provided by theleg length. As the force is exerted, large compression spring 76 indetachable leg 20 will stretch and leg 20 will pivot on a pivot point atthe edge of joint interface. The leg and body parts will not be able toslide on each other because they are prevented from doing so by rigidkeybody 50 that extends through the interface between the leg and body.With the joint open, the operator inserts detachable leg 20 into thesecond leg of the pair of pants, stops holding the joint open and allowsdetachable leg 20 to rotate back to its original closed position, andpulls up the pants.

Sometimes while dressing the manikin, it becomes necessary to move leg20 away from body 35 a short distance so that the manikin parts are nolonger touching. In this case, the ability of small compression spring94 and large compression spring 76 to stretch and return to theiroriginal position allows the leg to be moved away from the body a shortdistance along two, perpendicular axes.

An embodiment of the stretch joint uses an elastomeric cord as thestretch element, by means of elastomeric manikin joint. FIG. 13 showssuch a manikin joint in closed position so that only the leg-bodyinterface 211 is visible.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional front view of elastomeric manikin joint 230in closed position with leg 20 abutting body 35 along leg-body interface211. Joint 230 comprises a protective tube 270 that fits inside and isbonded to attachment tube 280, which is molded into leg 20. Elastomericcord 250 is disposed under tension within protective tube 270, held inplace by top eye bolt 272 and bottom eyebolt 274. Top eye bolt 272 isthreaded and screwed into top eyebolt nut 276 (in embodiments aninternal “T” nut), that is molded into a flangeboard which is thenmolded into body 35 by allowing the polymer mix that is used to mold thebody to flow around the board or portions thereof, leaving the threadedportion of the nut exposed for later insertion of top eye bolt 272.Bottom eye bolt 274 is also threaded and held in place by being extendedthrough a hole in tube bottom cap 275 and being screwed into bottom nut277. Attachment tube 280 is typically molded place when leg 20 is moldedby being inserted prior to molding in a mold for the leg such that thepolymeric material used to mold the leg coats it and the mold walls toform a tube wall 227 that is typically coextensive with leg shell wall224. FIG. 13 also shows that manikin leg 20 is substantially hollow,being formed so as to enclose leg void 228. Also depicted in FIG. 13 ispivot pin 260, the top end of which is fixedly attached to body cavity35 by being threaded and screwed into an anchoring body nut (not shown)molded into body 35 in the same way as anchoring body nut 276 describedabove. The bottom end of pivot pin 260 extends through a hole in legshell wall 224 into leg void 228.

FIG. 14 shows leg 20 pivoted to a partially-open position around pivotpoint 256. Pivot pin 260 is sized and located such that it allows leg 20to pivot in a downward direction to a partially-open position on pivotpoint 256, which is located on a notional line defined by top eye bolt272 and pivot pin 260. In embodiments, pivot pin 260 has a diameter of⅜″ and a length of 3″ with a threaded top. The location of pivot pin 260on a notional line between pivot point 256 and top eye bolt 272 allowsleg 20 to pivot on pivot point 256 without twisting horizontally, andcauses leg plateau 221 to fit snugly and exactly into body rim 237 whenthe joint is closed to minimize gaps in leg-body interface 211 so thatthe interface is not easy to detect visually. Leg plateau 221 and bodyrim 237 are chamfered so as to facilitate proper seating of leg plateau221 into body rim 237. Elastomeric cord 250 is under about 37.5 poundsof tension in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 13 and 14 with joint 230in closed and is under about 39.75 pounds of tension in the embodimentdepicted in FIG. 13 with joint 230 in partially-open position.

FIG. 15A is a perspective view showing elastomeric cord 250 attached tobottom cap 275 in position for insertion into protective tube 270. FIG.15B is an enlarged view of bottom cap 275. FIG. 15A shows elastomericcord 250 attached to bottom cap 275 by means of bottom eye bolt 274 andbottom nut 277, equipped with top eye bolt 272, and assembled and inposition to be inserted into protective tube 270. Elastomeric cord 250is attached to bottom eye bolt 274, which is inserted through a hole inbottom cap 275 and secured by screwing bottom nut 277 onto the threadedportion of bottom eye bolt 274. Bottom cap 275, shown enlarged in FIG.15B, comprises threads 279 to provide friction for holding it in placein the bottom of protective tube 270.

FIG. 16 shows an elastomeric cord assembly comprising elastomeric cord250 equipped with top and bottom eye bolts 272 and 274 respectively.Elastomeric cord 250 is threaded through the open portions of and topand bottom eye bolts 272 and 274. Elastomeric cord 250 is looped withthe ends overlapping and fastened to the adjacent portion of the loopwith fasteners 254, such as hog rings or staples, to form a bridge 252angled between the sides of the loop for extra strength.

FIG. 17 shows a protective tube component 270 of manikin leg joint 230,with its bottom cap 275 and bottom eye bolt 274, equipped withtensioning spacer 290 and ready for insertion into a manikin leg. Spacer290 is formed using a rubber tube section of a length suitable formaking spacer 290. Spacer 290 should have a length sufficient to allow anormal human operator to dismantle it, working inside the assembled openstretch joint. For example, spacer 290 can have a length of about 1 toabout 4 inches and in embodiments about 1 to about 3 or about 2 inches.The rubber tube is slit lengthwise to form a slit tube section and thecut ends are taped with any retaining tape known to the art form spacer290. Spacer 290 is detachably attached to protective tube 270 asdescribed below.

Top eye bolt 272 of elastomeric cord 250 (see FIG. 16) is operablyconnected to the bottom of a guide wire connector by means known to theart, such as by a connector screwed onto the threaded portion of top eyebolt 272. Elastomeric cord 250 is threaded through the open portion oftop eye bolt 272. Guide wire 210 is used to insert the elastomeric cordassembly into protective tube 270. The elastomeric cord assembly (FIG.16) is stiff enough to be easily inserted into protective tube 270.Upper guide wire loop 212 is ready for connection to a traction devicefor stretching elastomeric cord 250.

Tensioning spacer 290 comprises a cylindrical element such as a slitrubber tube, held together with retaining tape. Spacer 290 is formedusing a rubber tube section of a length suitable for making spacer 290.The spacer should have a length sufficient to allow a normal humanoperator to dismantle it, working inside the assembled open stretchjoint. For example, the spacer can have a length of about 1 to about 4inches and in embodiments about 1 to about 3 or about 2 inches. Therubber tube is slit lengthwise to form slit tube section and the cutends are taped with any retaining tape known to the art form spacer 290.Spacer 290 can be attached to protective tube 270 by means known to theart. In an embodiment, this is accomplished by inserting a retainingbolt through the round portion of top eye bolt 272 orthogonal to thethreaded portion of top eye bolt 272 to hold elastomeric cord 250 insideprotective tube 270 under extra tension prior to insertion of protectivetube 270 into a manikin leg. This effectively attaches spacer 290 toprotective tube 270. Temporary attachment tube 281, equipped with bottomcap 282 is shown to the right of protective tube 270.

To insert the elastomeric cord assembly into the manikin leg, protectivetube 270 containing the elastomeric cord assembly, with bottom cap 275,is fully inserted into the bottom of temporary attachment tube 281 bypushing bottom cap 275 into temporary attachment tube 281 withsufficient force to create a pressure fit. Elastomeric cord 250 andguide wire 210 are inserted through temporary attachment tube 281 untilat least upper guide wire loop 212 extends from the top of spacer 290.Temporary attachment tube 281 is used to help align spacer 290 duringthe stretching of the elastomeric cord 250 in the process of installingit into the manikin leg, and to lend protection and extra strength toprotective tube 270.

A second, substantially identical attachment tube 280 is molded intomanikin leg 20 as described above with respect to FIG. 13. (Cap 282 isshown attached to the bottom of temporary attachment tube 281 in FIG. 17to illustrate how it is affixed to attachment tube 280 prior to itsbeing molded into manikin leg 20). Cap 282 is used in the moldingprocess to prevent debris from entering attachment tube 280 during theprocess.

Protective tube 270 inside temporary attachment tube 281 is laid down ona board and secured in place against a stop abutting their top ends thatprevents them from moving when traction is applied to guide wire 210.There is a gap in the stop to allow guide wire 210 to extend beyond thestop so that it can be fastened to a traction cable. The gap is sizedand shaped to permit elastomeric cord 250 to stretch through it. Anopenable holder fixedly attached to the board holds the lower ends oftubes 270 and 281. Protective and temporary attachment tubes 270 and 281are kept in alignment with respect to the stop by first and secondalignment blocks adjacent to the stop and adjacent to the upper end ofthe tubes. Upper loop 212 of guide wire 210 is attached to a clipconnected via clip connector to a traction cable. The traction cable isin turn connected to a stretching machine such as a rotating shaftpowered by hydraulic or electrical energy, capable of exertingsufficient force to stretch elastomeric cable 250.

Once the components are connected and the stretching machine isactivated, tension is exerted on elastomeric cord 250 through guide wire210 sufficient to pull the top of elastomeric cord 250 out of the upperend of protective and temporary attachment tubes 270 and 281. Thetraction cable transmits the pulling force to elastomeric cord 250 viaguide wire 210 and its connecting links described above. The top ends ofprotective and temporary attachment tubes 270 and 281 are held in placeby the stop as elastomeric cord 250 is stretched through the gap in thestop.

A spacer retaining bolt inserted sideways through the opening of top eyebolt 272 and extending across the top of spacer 290 maintainselastomeric cord 250 in stretched position and the traction cable andguide wire 210 are disconnected from top eye bolt 272. Temporaryattachment tube 281 is slid down and off from the bottom end ofprotective tube 270, and elastomeric cord 250 (not visible insideprotective tube 270 and spacer 290) is held in stretched position by thespacer retaining bolt. Protective tube 270 and its attached componentsare positioned so as to allow top eye bolt 272 to be screwed into ananchoring body nut which is molded inside manikin body 35.

A pivot pin 260 is screwed into manikin body 35 and secured by a bodynut molded into the body. Protective tube 270 is coated with an adhesiveand inserted into attachment tube 280 that has been molded into manikinleg 20. Spacer 290 is still in place atop protective tube 270. Theadhesive is allowed to dry. Spacer 290 is then removed from protectivetube 270 by removing the retaining tape 294 and pulling the spacer awayfrom protective tube 272 and elastomeric cord 250.

FIG. 18 shows the elastomeric manikin joint with spacer removed andpivot pin 260 extending from body 35 into leg 20. Leg plateau 221 sizedand shaped to conform to a corresponding hollow formed by body rim 237can also be seen in this figure. Manikin body 35 and leg 20 can bepulled apart as shown, stretching elastomeric cord 250 to partially openmanikin joint 200 to show pivot pin 260 and the top of elastomeric cord250 which is stretched between body 35 and leg 20 and extends into theprotective tube that was adhesively fixed to attachment tube 280 thatwas molded into leg 20.

Protective tube 270 can be made of cardboard, metal, plastic or othermaterial having sufficient stiffness to withstand the forces exerted onit over time by elastomeric cord 250. Elastomeric cord 250 is anelastomer material which can be a bungee cord of sufficient strength,e.g., capable under tension of exerting about 35 to about 75 pounds ofpull, to maintain elastomeric joint 200 in closed position, and yetallow an operator to open joint 200 in order to move leg 20 intoposition such that both legs can easily be inserted into a pair ofpants, shorts, or other lower body garment. Other elastomeric elementssuch as springs, air pressure cylinders, and other devices capable ofallowing the leg to be pulled away from the body by the exertion offorce by an operator and automatically returning it to closed positionwhen that force is removed can also be used in place of the bungee cordillustrated. As depicted in FIG. 16, rings, such as hog rings, staples,sleeves, or other fasteners made of metal or other material ofsufficient strength to withstand the forces on them in use can be usedto attach the ends of elastomeric cord 250 to itself to form theconfiguration shown. Fittings such as eye bolts, nuts, and caps can bemade of any material known to the art, such as metal or plastic, havingsufficient strength and durability to withstand the forces exerted onthem during use.

The mold used for limbs such as arms legs, hands, thumbs, etc. which areintended to be attached to the body by means of the elastomeric jointdescribed herein comprises an attachment tube which is molded into themanikin limb so that it is covered with the shell material that formsthe walls of the limb and so that it is securely embedded in the limb.Nuts for attaching the elastomeric cord and pivot pin to the manikinbody or other manikin parts for which a joint is being made, are moldedinto the body or other part, e.g., by attaching them to a flangeboardinside the mold.

When it is desired to operate a stretch joint hereof to dress a manikinin a pair of pants, an operator detaches a first leg from its stand 42or other support, and inserts that leg into the appropriate pant legwithout pulling the pants up, then reattaches the clothed leg to stand42. The operator then exerts pressure on a second leg 20, that isequipped with a stretch joint hereof, to open the joint and move itcloser to the first leg. The lower down on second leg 20 the force isexerted, the stronger the force pulling the joint apart will be due tothe leverage provided by the leg length. As the force is exerted, secondleg 20 will pivot on pivot point 256 at the edge of joint interface 211.Pivot pin 260 is attached to body 35 and extends into a void space inleg 20. Pivot pin 260 is placed so that it intersects joint interface211 on a notional line between the elastomeric cord's intersection withthe joint interface and the pivot point. The pivot pin, so placed,prevents leg 20 from rotating on the single axis that would be providedby the elastomeric cord if the pivot pin were not present, and causesthe joint parts not to shift laterally with respect to each other whilethe joint is opening and closing. With the joint open, the operatorinserts leg 20 into the second leg of the pair of pants, stops holdingthe joint open and allows the leg 20 to rotate on the pivot point backto its original closed position, then pulls up the pants.

Other elastomeric manikin joints are assembled and operated in a similarmanner as the leg-body joint, using parts appropriately scaled in termsof size and elastomeric pull strength.

In an embodiment, a manikin joint connected to first and second parts ofa manikin body is provided for allowing the second part to move relativeto the first part, wherein the second part comprises an outer shellsurrounding a void space, and wherein the joint in closed position formsa joint interface between the parts, the joint comprising: (a) anelastomeric cord attached to the first manikin part and passing throughand intersecting the joint interface at a first point therein; theelastomeric cord also being attached to the second manikin part; (b) apivot point at an edge of the joint interface selected so as to allowmovement of the second manikin part relative to the first part in adesired direction when an operator opens the joint by exerting anopening force on the second manikin part; (c) a pivot pin that is (i)attached to the first manikin part, (ii) that passes through andintersects with the joint interface at a second point therein defined bya line between the first point and the pivot point, and (iii) thatextends through a hole in the shell of the second part into the voidspace and is slidable in the hole when the joint opens and closes;wherein locating the pivot pin at the second point prevents rotation ofthe manikin parts relative to each other around an axis passing throughthe first point and orthogonal to the joint interface; and wherein whenthe pivot pin serves to guide the second manikin part back to itsoriginal closed position when the opening force on the second part isremoved. In an embodiment the first part comprises a manikin body andthe second part comprises a manikin leg. In an embodiment, theelastomeric cord passes through the joint interface at about the centerthereof. In an embodiment, the pivot point is located at a point on anedge of the joint interface distal to the vertical midline of the bodysuch that the joint opens to move the leg away from the midline. Inanother embodiment, the pivot point is located at a point on an edge ofthe joint interface proximal to the vertical midline of the body suchthat the joint opens to move the leg toward the midline. In anembodiment the pivot point is located at a point on the front edge ofthe joint interface such that the joint opens to move the arm backward.Alternatively, the pivot pin can be located on a point on a back edge ofthe joint interface such that the joint opens to move the arm forward.In an embodiment the first manikin part comprises a manikin hand and thesecond manikin part comprises a manikin thumb, and the pivot point islocated at a point on the edge of the joint interface proximal to thehand such that the joint opens to move the thumb toward the hand.

In embodiments, the elastomeric cord has a strength requiring an openingforce is between about 35 and about 75 pounds, or between about 45 andabout 55 pounds and in embodiments about 50 pounds, and such strengthcan be achieved by utilizing two or more strands or elastomeric cord orby configuring a single strand by looping the cord and forming an angledbridge between the sides of the loop.

In embodiments, the elastomeric cord is connected to the first manikinpart via an eye bolt attached to the cord and screwed into a nut fixedlyattached to the first manikin part. The elastomeric cord can beconnected to the second manikin part by being contained within acylinder and connected to the bottom of the cylinder, wherein the tubeis fixedly attached to the second manikin part. The tube can be fixedlyattached to the second manikin part by being adhesively attached to anattachment tube that is molded into the second manikin part.

Components for stretch joint embodiments hereof are also providedherein, including a component comprising an elastomeric cord disposedwithin and fixedly attached to a cylinder, wherein the elastic cord isconfigured to allow the joint to open when an operator exerts a forcesufficient to open the joint and to return the joint to a closedposition upon removal of the force. This joint component can have acylinder sized to fit within a portion of a manikin limb correspondingto an unjointed portion of a human limb.

In an embodiment, a method of making a manikin comprising a stretchjoint hereof comprises: (a) providing an attachment element for anelastomeric cord in a first manikin part; (b) identifying a desiredpivot point on the outside of the joint interface upon which to pivotthe joint to an open position; (c) providing an attachment element for apivot pin in the first manikin part such that the distance between thepivot pin at the joint interface and the elastomeric cord at the jointinterface is about 20 to 30% of the distance between the elastomericcord at the joint interface and the pivot point; (e) providing anelastomeric cord with a strength that allows the joint to be opened byexertion of a selected force thereon and to automatically close when theforce is removed; (f) stretching the elastomeric cord to about 1.25 toabout 2 times its normal length; (g) attaching an end of the elastomericcord to each of the attachment elements in the first and second manikinparts; and (h) attaching the pivot pin to the first manikin part.

A method of making a manikin joint to connect first and second parts ofa manikin, wherein the first and second parts form a joint interface isalso provided, the method comprising: (a) molding an attachment elementfor an elastomeric cord into a first manikin part; (b) identifying adesired pivot point on the outside of the joint interface upon which topivot the joint to an open position; c) molding an attachment elementfor a pivot pin into the first manikin part such that the distancebetween the pivot pin at the joint interface and the elastomeric cord atthe joint interface is about 20 to 30% of the distance between theelastomeric cord at the joint interface and the pivot point; (d) moldingan attachment tube into the second manikin part; (e) configuring anelastomeric cord to provide a strength that allows the joint to beopened by exertion of a selected force thereon and to automaticallyclose when the force is removed; (f) providing a tube sized toaccommodate the elastomeric cord when it is stretched to a length about1.25 to about 2 times its unstretched length; (g) providing a tubularspacer having tube walls sized to correspond to the walls of the tubeused to contain the elastomeric cord; (h) positioning the spacer at anend of the tube; (i) attaching a traction element to a first end of theelastomer cord; (j) inserting the traction element into the tube at theend opposite the spacer and pushing it and the attached elastomeric cordthrough the tube until the traction element emerges from the end of thespacer; (k) securing the second end of the elastomeric cord to a cap;(I) affixing the cap to the end of the tube opposite the spacer; (m)stretching the elastomeric cord by causing a pulling force to be exertedon the elastomeric cord by the traction element; (n) retaining theelastomeric cord in its stretched position by means of a retainingelement attached to the first end of the elastomeric cord that preventsthe cord from reverting to an unstretched position inside the tube; (o)attaching the first end of the elastomeric cord to its attachmentelement in the first manikin part; (p) attaching the pivot pin to itsattachment element in the first manikin part; and (q)attaching the tubeto the attachment tube in the second manikin part.

A manikin joint is also provided comprising (a) a variable lengthelement removably attached at one end to one manikin part and at theother end to another manikin part so as to form a joint between theparts having a joint interface between the parts; wherein: (i) thevariable length element is configured to exert a pulling force on bothmanikin parts sufficient to keep the joint closed with both partstouching; (ii) wherein the variable length element is capable ofelongating sufficiently to cause one part to pivot on a pivot point atan edge of the joint interface thereby opening the joint when asufficient opening force is applied to the part; and (iii) the variablelength element is capable of automatically exerting a force on the partscausing the manikin parts to return to their original closed position;and (b) a pivot pin fixedly attached to one manikin part andintersecting the joint interface between the outer edge of the jointinterface and the variable length element. The variable length elementcan be selected from the group consisting of elastomeric cords, springs,and pneumatic tubes.

Further provided herein is a method of dressing a manikin having amanikin joint in an article of clothing, the method comprising: (a)inserting a first the manikin part at least partially into the articleof clothing; (b) moving the first manikin part toward the second manikinpart by exerting a force on the first manikin part sufficient to openthe manikin joint; (c) inserting at least a portion of a second manikinpart into the article of clothing; (d) allowing the manikin joint toclose by ceasing to exert the force on the first manikin part; and (e)if necessary, finishing dressing the manikin in the article of clothingby covering remaining portions of the manikin with the article ofclothing.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Compression Spring Stretch Joint Assembly

A full-size manikin body with an integral leg, and a separate,detachable leg, were molded using polyurethane in a cold rotationalmolding process substantially as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/847,336 or US Patent Publication No. 20030006526, bothincorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewithfor purposes of enablement and written description. The mold for theseparate leg was made to comprise a void sufficient to house the portionof the second joint assembly, including the compression spring, as showin FIG. 4 that extends below the leg flangeboard. The leg mold alsocomprised a leg flangeboard oriented so that the guide boss would extendout of the top end of the molded leg and the concave side of thethreaded screw recesses would face upward out of the top end of themolded leg so as to allow a key assembly plate to be screwed into theleg flangeboard. The leg flangeboard was integrally molded into the leg.The manikin body was also molded with a void space sufficient to receivethe part of the second joint assembly extending through a key assemblyplate into the body, and with the body flangeboard molded integrallyinto it, oriented with the screw hole recesses facing the bottom of thebody so as to allow attachment of the keyway plate. The keyway plate wasthen attached to the body flangeboard with the locating ramps positionedto form a gap into which the pivot key fits when the flangeboards arelocked together.

A small compression spring was inserted into the top of the keybody andthe set screw was screwed into the top to exert a constant springpressure of about 35 to about 50 ft. lbs. sufficient to maintain tensionagainst a pivot key placed inside the keybody.

The bottom of a keybody was inserted through the slot in the keywayassembly plate oriented so that it would extend down inside the leg whenthe keyway assembly plate was screwed onto the leg flangeboard. The slotin the keybody was about 0.005 inches per side larger than the locatingportion of the keybody. A retaining bushing was placed over the bottomof a large compression spring, and a spring retaining rod was insertedinto the bottom of the bushing to extend upwardly into the bottom of thespring. The top of the large compression spring was inserted over thebottom of the keybody and the spring retaining rod with its integralretaining nut at the bottom was inserted into the bottom of theretaining bushing upwardly into the spring until it was received insidea threaded receiving channel in the bottom of the keybody, and screwedin.

The key assembly plate with the assembled keybody and spring was thenscrewed onto the leg flangeboard oriented so that spring extended downinto the void in the leg. The pivot key was packaged with the manikinand the unattached leg for shipping.

The keybody had a total length of 3.375 inches, with the top sectionbeing 1.5 inches in length. The bottom section was 1.875 inches inlength, and the steeply downward tapered top locating portion of thebottom section was 0.75 inches in length and tapered downwardly at anangle of 9°, while the bottom, stretch portion thereof was 1.125 inchesin length and tapered downwardly at an angle of 2°. The top portion hada slot section about 0.56 inches in length accommodating a slot, and atapered top section. The top of the keybody had a radius of 0.031 inch,tapered down outwardly from the slot section by 4° over a distance of0.94 inches. The large compression spring was 4 inches long and afterinstallation was compressed to 3 inches in length. It had a compressionstrength of 50.5 pounds and the retaining rod was 2 inches long.

Example 2 Manikin Dressing Utilizing Compression Spring Joint

Tests are performed to assess the relative speed and ease of dressingmanikins of Example 1 in long-legged trousers. 20 manikins of Example 1having a compression spring stretch joint connecting one leg to the bodyare provided along with an equal number of manikins having magnetic legjoints as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794. Each individual of ateam of operators dresses both sets of manikins in long-legged trousers.Each individual completes the dressing process on the manikins equippedwith the compression spring leg joints hereof in about half the time ittakes for that individual to complete the dressing process on themanikins equipped with the magnetic leg joints.

The operators report improved ease in the process due to the facts thatthe detachable leg can be easily pulled toward the other leg and doesnot need to be reattached, it automatically repositions itself correctlywhen the joint is closed. In addition, there is no worry that the jointwill accidentally disengage. This is because the locating ramps on thekeyway plate are structured such that the pivot key pops into a spacebetween them, from which it will not easily dislodge during ordinaryuse. In addition, when the large compression spring is compressed topartially open the joint in order to dress the manikin in pants, thebottom (“stretch”) portion of the keybody disengages from the slot inthe assembly plate to allow some rotation without turning the pivot pinout of the location ramps. In addition, because the boss on the jointsurface of the leg seats in the recess on the joint surface of body whenthe opening force on the large compression is removed, the pivot keyautomatically returns back to its original locked position every time,preventing detachment over repeated use. Further, the leg can beadjusted up and down as well as sideways. This is because the keybodyportals allow the pivot key to rotate up and down within the recess inthe key body beneath the small compression spring, allowing smalladjustments to the position of the leg.

Example 3 Elastic Cord Stretch Joint Assembly utilizing an ElastomericCord

A full-size manikin body, separate legs, and arms equipped with hands,and a separate thumb were molded using polyurethane in a cold rotationalmolding process substantially as described in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/847,336 or US Patent Publication No. 20030006526, bothincorporated herein by reference to the extent not inconsistent herewithfor purposes of enablement and written description. The molds for thelegs and thumbs were made to comprise an attachment tube sized andshaped to receive the protective tube of an elastomeric joint hereof.The attachment tube was capped at the bottom to prevent debris fromentering the tube during molding. The mold also comprised a flangeboardwith a threaded body anchoring nut for attachment to the top eye bolt ofthe elastomeric cord, and a flangeboard with a threaded anchoring nutfor receiving the threaded end of a pivot pin. The arms were attached tothe shoulders of the molded body with magnetic joints substantially asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794. A ½″ white nylon bungee cord withblack tracer 22′ was provided and eye bolts were threaded onto it. Thecord was then configured as shown in FIG. 10 by creating two loops withtwo crimps on each end held in place with elastomeric cord fasteners inthe form of 12 gauge hog rings. The finished configuration was 8½″ long.

Two attachment tubes 13⅜″ long were cut from a piece of cardboard tubinghaving a 1⅜″ inner diameter and a 1⅝″ outer diameter. A cap designed tofit snugly onto the end of one of the attachment tubes to be molded wasalso provided and placed on an end of the tube. This capped attachmenttube was molded into a manikin body as described above.

A protective tube was cut from cardboard tubing having a 1¼″ outerdiameter and a wall thickness of 0.187″. A threaded bottom cap wasprovided to fit the tube in the form of a round threaded insert 1.25″diameter. Hex nuts with thin nylon inserts, were provided to fit the eyebolts on the bungee cord configurations. The nuts were threaded onto theeyebolts just until the thread came through the nylon. A spacer wasassembled by cutting a section of rubber tubing having an outer diameterof 1¼″ to a length of 2″. The section of tubing was then slit lengthwiseand the edges placed in abutment and taped closed with duct tape. An endof the spacer was placed in abutment with the top end of the protectivetube. The bottom of the protective tube was inserted to the remainingattachment tube described above. A guide wire was attached to the topeye bolt on the elastomeric cord and used to feed the elastomeric cordinto the bottom end of the cardboard protective tube and through thespacer until at least the top of an upper loop on the guide wire fromthe top of the protective and attachment tubes. The guide wire wasattached to a traction machine, which was activated to stretch thebungee cord until the top end of the bungee cord and top eye boltemerged from the top of the spacer. A spacer retaining bolt was insertedsideways over the top of the spacer and attachment and protective tubesthrough the open portion of the top eye bolt to keep the bungee cord inits stretched position. The guide wire was removed from the top eye bolton the bungee cord and the attachment tube was slid down from around theprotective tube and set aside.

A hole was drilled in the manikin body wall to provide access by thethreaded portion of the top eye bolt of the bungee cord to the anchoringbody nut that was molded into the body. The top eye bolt, with itsattached bungee cord and protective tube was screwed into the anchoringbody nut.

A hole was drilled in the manikin body wall to provide access by thethreaded portion of the top eye bolt of the bungee cord to the anchoringbody nut that was molded into the body. The threaded portion of the topeye bolt was inserted into the hole and screwed into the anchoring bodynut. The pivot pin was placed to intersect the leg-body interface at apoint located at a distance away from the bungee cord that was about20-30% of the distance between bungee cord and the pivot point.

The protective tube was then coated with urethane (PUR) adhesive andinserted into the attachment tube formed in the manikin leg, and theadhesive was allowed to dry for about 20 minutes. The spacer was thenremoved from the top of the protective tube by taking off the tapeholding the slit rubber tubing in place, opening out the tubing andpulling it away from the bungee cord. The bungee cord was then allowedto pull the manikin joint into closed position. The completed joint washeld closed by a pull force of about 37.5 pounds.

Example 4 Thumb Elastomeric Cord Stretch Joint Assembly

The procedure described in Example 3 was followed to prepare a smallerstretch joint for a manikin thumb. The procedure was modified by usingpolyethylene tubing for the protective and attachment tubes surroundinga single strand of W bungee cord, and scaling down the pull forceexerted by the elastomeric cord to between about 2 and about 4 pounds inthe closed joint.

Example 5 Completion of the Manikins

Completion of the manikins of Example 4 involved attaching arms to thebody via magnetic joints and by attaching thumbs to the hands byassembling thumb stretch joints as described in Example 4. The arms weredressed in gloves by operating the joints to move the thumbs in towardthe fingers.

Example 6 Manikin Dressing Using Manikins with Elastomeric Cord StretchJoints

Tests were performed to assess the relative speed and ease of dressingmanikins of Example 3 in long-legged trousers. Seventeen manikins ofExample 3 having a stretch joint connecting one leg to the body wereprovided along with an equal number of manikins having magnetic legjoints as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,794. Each individual of ateam of operators dressed both sets of manikins in long-legged trousers.Each individual completed the dressing process on the manikins equippedwith the elastomeric leg joints hereof in about half the time it tookfor that individual to complete the dressing process on the manikinsequipped with the magnetic leg joints. The operators reported improvedease in the process due to the fact that less strength was required topull the stretch joints open and that there was less danger of pinchingthe fingers when the joint closed.

It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that thecomponents, method steps and materials illustrated above may be variedby substitution of equivalent components, steps and materials capable ofperforming the same functions. It will also be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art that sizes and strengths of the components canbe scaled up or down as required for specific purposes. The claimshereof are intended to encompass all such equivalent components, methodsteps and scales.

1. A manikin joint capable of connecting first and second manikin parts,and when said first and second parts are connected, capable of allowingsaid joint to be partially opened by pivoting the parts with respect toeach other on a pivot point on the interface between the manikin parts,said manikin joint comprising: a first joint assembly attached to thefirst manikin part; a second joint assembly attached to the secondmanikin part, capable of detachably engaging with the first jointassembly; wherein the second joint assembly comprises: a stretchelement, which in use is attached to the first manikin part at a firstattachment point on the stretch element and to the second manikin partat a second attachment point on the stretch element, wherein saidstretch element in use is capable of: being elongated in by applying afirst stretching force thereon at the second attachment point or at apoint on the stretch element other than the first attachment point; andautomatically returning to a less elongated position in the absence ofapplication of the stretching force; a pivot element operationallyconnected to said stretch element, allowing said stretch element topivot in a primary rotational direction wherein said manikin parts inuse can pivot with respect to each other at a pivot point located at aninterface between said first and second manikin parts into apartially-open position in which the joint interfaces can form an anglewith respect to each other of between about 20° and about 60°; a rigidelement extending between said manikin parts that prevents them fromsliding with respect to each other when said joint is in partially openposition.
 2. The manikin joint of claim I wherein the stretch elementhas a compression strength sufficient to prevent wiggling of the secondpart during static use of the manikin, but not so strong that itprevents the joint from being operated by personnel of average strengthwithout special tools.
 3. The manikin joint of claim 2 wherein thestretch element has a compression strength between about 35 and about 75pounds.
 4. The manikin joint of claim 3 wherein the stretch element hasa compression strength between about 45 and about 55 pounds.
 5. Themanikin joint of claim 1 wherein: the first joint assembly comprises akeyway fixedly attached to said first joint assembly; and the secondjoint assembly comprises a key removably attachable to said jointassembly, said key being sized and shaped, in use, to be insertedthrough the keyway in an orientation in which it is aligned with saidkeyway, and after insertion to be rotatable to a second orientation inwhich it is not aligned with said keyway; whereby the key cannot bewithdrawn from the keyway unless it is rotated into alignment with saidkeyway.
 6. The manikin joint of claim 5 wherein: said key is anelongated member; and wherein said rigid element is a rigid keybodycomprised in said second joint assembly, and operationally connected tosaid stretch element; and wherein said second joint assembly alsocomprises a component comprising an elongated slot sized and shaped toreceive a bottom portion of the keybody therethrough; wherein saidkeybody comprises: a top section that overhangs the bottom section toform a shoulder that is too large to fit through said slot; and atapering bottom section that wherein said bottom section comprises: anupper portion that tapers steeply downward and is sized and shaped sothat it is able to rotate in a primary rotational direction in avertical plane within said slot but not in the horizontal plane withinsaid slot defined by the bottom of said shoulder; and a lower portionthat tapers less steeply downward and is sized and shaped so that it isable to rotate in both a horizontal and said vertical plane within saidslot.
 7. The manikin joint of claim 6 wherein said top section of thekeybody comprises: a recess formed in its top end; a small compressionspring disposed within said recess; a set screw closing the top end ofthe recess, capable in use of exerting pressure on the small compressionspring; portals on opposite sides of said recess sized and shaped toreceive said key inserted lengthwise through both said portals and toallow it to tilt up and down within said portals in a secondaryrotational direction orthogonal to said primary rotational direction. 8.The manikin joint of claim 1 wherein the first manikin part is a manikinbody and the second manikin part is a manikin leg.
 9. The manikin jointof claim 1 wherein the manikin parts correspond in size and shape tonormal human body parts.
 10. The manikin joint of claim 9 wherein themanikin parts correspond in size and shape to those of a normal humanbaby or child from about 7 to about 12 years of age.
 11. The manikinjoint of claim 9 wherein the manikin parts correspond in shape to thoseof a natural or fantastical living creature.
 12. A manikin comprising amanikin joint of claim
 1. 13. The manikin joint of claim 1 wherein saidstretch element is a compression spring.
 14. The manikin joint of claim1, wherein said stretch element is a compression spring.
 15. The manikinjoint of claim 14 also comprising interfitting features on the surfaceof the joint interface of the first and second joint assemblies that arecapable of mating when the first and second joint assemblies arepositioned in a desired alignment so as to prevent rotation of the jointinterfaces with respect to each other.
 16. The manikin joint of claim 15wherein the interfitting features comprise a guide boss on one jointassembly or manikin part and a groove and a recess sized and shaped toreceive the guide boss on the other joint assembly or manikin part. 17.A method of attaching the second manikin part to the first manikin partof a manikin comprising a manikin joint of claim 16 connecting saidparts, said method comprising: providing a first manikin part comprisingthe first joint assembly and a second manikin part comprising the secondjoint assembly; attaching the first manikin part to the second manikinpart by: positioning the second manikin part with respect to the firstmanikin part such that the surfaces of their respective joint assembliesare substantially parallel, the guide boss is proximal to the end of thegroove farthest away from the recess, and the pivot key is proximal tothe keyway moving the manikin parts toward each other such that theguide boss is received within the groove and the top of the keybody andthe pivot key are received through the keyway; rotating the manikinparts with respect to each other until the guide boss reaches the end ofthe groove closest to the recess and the pivot key is no longer alignedwith the keyway, whereby the joint assemblies are locked together;exerting downward force on the second manikin part to cause the guideboss to disengage from the groove; continuing the rotation of the secondmanikin part with respect to the first manikin part until the guide bossmates with the recess and the large compression spring causes themanikin parts to be pulled together.
 18. A method of partially opening amanikin joint of claim 16, said method comprising exerting a stretchingforce on the large compression spring, thereby causing the largecompression spring to stretch and causing the keybody to rotate on thepivot key, and the second manikin part to rotate on a pivot point withrespect to the first manikin part.
 19. A method for detaching the secondpart from the first part of a manikin comprising a manikin joint ofclaim 16, said method comprising: pulling the second manikin part awayfrom the first manikin part by exerting a stretching force on the secondmanikin part, thereby stretching the large compression spring andseparating the manikin parts a sufficient distance to disengage theguide boss from the recess; rotating the second manikin part withrespect to the first manikin part so as to bring the guide boss intoalignment with the groove until the guide boss is proximal to the end ofthe groove closest to the recess; ceasing to exert the stretching force,thereby allowing the compressive force of the large compression springto cause the guide boss to seat in the end of the groove; rotating thesecond manikin part until the guide boss reaches the end of the groovefarthest from the recess, thereby aligning the pivot key with thekeyway; and pulling the second manikin part away from the first manikinpart, thereby pulling the key through the keyway and separating thesecond manikin part from the first manikin part.
 20. A method fordressing an assembled manikin comprising a joint of claim 1 in a pair ofpants wherein the first manikin part is a manikin body with an integralleg and the second manikin part is a detachable manikin leg, said methodcomprising: inserting the lower end of the integral leg onto or througha first leg of the pants without pulling the pants further up on theleg; exerting a stretching downward pressure on the large compressionspring, causing the stretch element to elongate and the leg to rotatewith respect to the body on a pivot point at the joint interface betweenthe body and the detachable leg near the manikin groin, thereby bringingthe lower portion of the detachable leg closer to the lower portion ofthe integral leg; inserting the lower end of the detachable leg into orthrough a second leg of the pants; pulling the pants up to cover bothlegs; and releasing the pressure on the detachable leg.
 21. A method ofmaking a manikin joint of claim 1 comprising: providing a first manikinpart, a second manikin part, a stretch element, a pivot element and arigid element capable of extending between the manikin parts; andattaching the stretch element to the first and second manikin parts suchthat movement of the parts with respect to each other causes the stretchelement to elongate; operably connecting the pivot element to thestretch element such that when a first stretching force is exerted onthe stretch element, the second manikin part can pivot in a primaryrotational direction with respect to the first manikin part on a pivotpoint located at the joint interface to bring the joint into a partiallyopen position; and positioning the rigid element to extend between themanikin parts such that they are prevented from sliding with respect toeach other when the joint is in a partially open position.
 22. Themanikin joint of claim 1 wherein the stretch element comprises anelastomeric cord.
 23. The manikin joint of claim 22 wherein: The stretchelement is attached to the first and second manikin parts; and the firstmanikin part comprises: an eye bolt attached thereto which serves as apivot element upon which the stretch element can pivot; and a rigid rodattached thereto which in use extends through and is slidable in a holein the second manikin part such that the manikin parts are preventedfrom sliding upon each other when the joint is partially opened.
 23. Arigid keybody comprising: a top section that overhangs a narrower bottomsection to form a shoulder, said top section comprising: a recess formedin its top end sized and shaped to contain a small compression springand a portion of a pivot key disposed within said recess; a set screwfor closing the top end of the recess, capable in use of exertingpressure on the small compression spring; portals in opposite walls ofsaid recess sized and shaped to receive the pivot key insertedlengthwise through both said portals and to allow it to tilt up and downwithin said portals; and wherein said bottom section comprises: a topsection that overhangs the bottom section to form a shoulder that is toolarge to fit through said slot; and a tapering bottom section thatwherein said bottom section comprises: an upper portion that taperssteeply downward and is sized and shaped so that it is able to rotate ina primary rotational direction in a vertical plane within said slot butnot in the horizontal plane within said slot defined by the bottom ofsaid shoulder; and a lower portion that tapers less steeply downward andis sized and shaped so that it is able to rotate in both a horizontaland said vertical plane within said slot.